Frequently Asked Questions

Q

Will there be a Red Dwarf Series XI?

A

We're hoping so! As of early 2013, it was stated that all parties - Grant Naylor Productions and broadcaster Dave - would be keen on making another series after the success of Red Dwarf X. However, as is so often the case in television, various factors need to be dealt with before a commission and production can take place. Watch this space!

Q

Will Red Dwarf X ever be broadcast in my country?

A

Following its premiere in the UK, Series X was acquired by Australian broadcaster ABC1 for transmission in winter 2012. As yet, these are the only international transmissions to have occurred, although we hope that at some point broadcasters in the US elsewhere may acquire the episodes. As ever, keep checking the
weekly news updates on reddwarf.co.uk for updates.

Q

Can I stream Red Dwarf episodes online?

A

Various legal streaming companies offer access to Red Dwarf episodes at different times - keep an eye on our
Watch Red Dwarf section for up-to-date links. You can also buy episodes from all ten series on iTunes.

Q

How many episodes of Red Dwarf are there?

A

There are 61 episodes of Red Dwarf in total. The 2009 Back to Earth special was edited into a special feature-length "Director's Cut" for the DVD/Blu-ray release, and this is writer/director Doug Naylor's preferred version of the story; however, for numbering purposes the episodes should be considered as the three parts in which they were originally broadcast. The multi-part stories of Series VIII ("Back in the Red" and "Pete") are also counted as separate episodes.

Q

How many series are there?

A

So far, nine series and one special - or, if you prefer, ten "sets" of episodes.

The first eight series are simply referred to by number - usually with roman numerals (Series I-VIII). This convention dates back to the numbering on the original video releases - and was first used onscreen for Series VII in 1997. Although Back to Earth is a special rather than a series - and so should not be called "Series IX" - as the tenth set of episodes, the 2012 series is officially designated "Series X".

If you'd rather say "season" than "series", by the way, we won't hold that against you. Doug himself often does this.

Q

What happened between Series VIII and Back to Earth?

A

At the end of Series VIII, the main crew consisted of Lister, a newly-resurrected version of the pre-accident Rimmer, Cat, Kryten and Kochanski. The rest of Red Dwarf's crew had also been resurrected by nanobots.

As of Back to Earth, and continuing onwards to Series X, Kochanski has left the crew and Rimmer is now a hologram again. The "current" version of Rimmer appears to remember things that have happened both to the original hologram, and the Series VIII resurrected version. However, we don't know exactly which version he is, nor why he's a hologram once more. Ship's computer Holly, meanwhile, is out of commission due to waterlogging.

Some of this "missing history" may yet be explored in future episodes or other media. Some of it might always remain a mystery!

Q

Does Back to Earth take place before or after Series X?

A

Due to a line of dialogue in Back to Earth Part Two - which was then also repeated on the cover of
the DVD release due to it deliberately replicating the sleeve seen in the show - some fans believe that Series X is designed to serve as a "prequel" of sorts to Back to Earth.

However, the "series ten" that Lister refers to in Back to Earth is a fictional series within the group hallucination taking place in the story. It bears no resemblance to the actual, later-produced Series X. Throughout Series X, Lister is searching for Kochanski, as a direct result of the events of Back to Earth, and as such can only take place after it.

Q

What is the status of the Red Dwarf movie?

A

Currently our efforts are focussed on the TV production. A script still exists and any developments will be posted on reddwarf.co.uk - where you can find storyboard artwork and other archive news.

Q

Will there ever be another Red Dwarf novel?

A

Doug Naylor has stated that he would be interested in writing multiple further novels at some point in the future - but they're unlikely to happen while the TV show is in active production.

Q

Is there going to be a Red Dwarf stage show?

A

A stage project, based on the Dwarf movie script, has been under consideration at various times in the past. At the moment no such project is in active development - but as ever, the website will report any updates as they happen.

Q

Was there an American version of Red Dwarf?

A

In 1992, US broadcaster NBC commissioned a pilot for a US adaptation of Red Dwarf. Produced by Linwood Boomer - creator of the hit series Malcolm in the Middle - and scripted by Rob and Doug (albeit with heavy studio interference!), the pilot was based on the script for "The End", albeit with Kryten written in to be on the ship from the beginning. Robert Llewellyn reprised his role alongside Craig Bierko as Lister, Chris Eigeman as Rimmer, Hinton Battle as the Cat and Jane Leeves as Holly.

The pilot ultimately proved unsatisfactory, and was not picked up for a series. Shortly afterwards, a second low-budget "promo" pilot, with a recast Rimmer and (female) Cat, mixed new footage in with clips from the first pilot, but this also proved fruitless.

The full story of this ill-fated venture is told in the "Dwarfin' USA" documentary on the
Series V DVD.

Q

Did Red Dwarf originally start on the radio?

A

The original premise of Red Dwarf was based loosely on a series of sketches written by Rob and Doug for their 1984 Radio 4 series Son of Cliché. Called "Dave Hollins: Space Cadet", the sketches followed the misadventures of the last human being in the cosmos, and his computer Hab. Some of the plot and jokes of Red Dwarf's early series were drawn from the original sketches, albeit with some changes in detail.

The apparent non-sequitur of these lyrics actually refers to Lister's dream, stated in the first episode, of retiring to a farm on Fiji. The theme was composed by Howard Goodall and sung by Jenna Russell. There are actually two slightly different mixes of the closing theme employed across the first six series - see if you can spot the differences!

Any additional verses you may hear on alternative recordings, such as those found on TV soundtrack compilation albums, are unofficial and should not be considered canonical parts of the theme.

Q

What is the title of the first novel?

A

Upon its original release, the first book was simply titled Red Dwarf. However, the text on a sign shown on the front cover illustration - "Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers" - became the book's official subtitle in later editions. As such, the book is now usually referred to by the full title Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, often shortened by fans to simply IWCD or Infinity.

Q

Do the novels take place in the same continuity as the TV series?

A

The Red Dwarf novels tell an alternative version of the story, expanding upon events and also changing various details as befits the narrative. They should therefore be considered a separate, standalone continuity - although some elements first introduced in the novels were later retrospectively folded into the TV series' backstory.

Further confusing matters, the two "solo" novels - Doug Naylor's Last Human and Rob Grant's Backwards - each tell their own separate version of events following the conclusion of Better Than Life. As such, each of these books should also be considered as part of a distinct canon from the other.

Fortunately, in Red Dwarf, there are an infinite number of parallel universes, thus any and all continuities can be considered correct and/or canonical!

Q

What Red Dwarf DVDs and merchandise are available?

A

In the UK (Region 2):Red Dwarf Series I,II,III,IV,V,VI,VII and VIII as two- or three-disc sets. All episodes are in their original format, and every series includes deleted scenes, outtakes, documentaries, cast commentary, interviews and more.
Series I,II,III and IV are also available as "vanilla" single-disc releases with no extra features.The Bodysnatcher Collection, featuring all three Remastered series, all-new documentaries and commentaries, plus rare unseen footage.Beat The Geek, an interactive quiz DVD hosted by Holly.All The Shows, all 52 episodes in Anniversary 'photo album' packaging.Just The Shows Vol.1, Vol.2 and Complete all compiling the episodes without bonus material.Just The Smegs, compiling the Smeg Ups and Smeg Outs specials.Back To Earth two-disc set with deleted scenes, "smeg ups", documentary and director's commentary (also on Blu-ray).Red Dwarf X two-disc set with deleted scenes, "smeg ups" and two-hour documentary (also on Blu-ray)

In Australia (Region 4):Red Dwarf Series I-VIII, Back to Earth and Series X as above.The Bodysnatcher Collection as above.Beat The Geek as above.Just The Shows Vol.1 and Vol.2 as aboveJust The Smegs as above.

In the USA (Region 1):Red Dwarf Series I-VIII, Back to Earth and Series X as above.

Rest of World:
The series is also available on country-specific DVD releases in Japan, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.

A range of licensed merchandise also exists. Please see the
Merchandise section for more information.

Series I-VIII and Back to Earth can also be purchased digitally via iTunes, and for viewers in some countries the first three series are available on the BBC's Global iPlayer app.

Q

Why has Universe Challenge not been released on DVD?

A

Rights issues mean that this quiz show special is the only part of 1998's BBC2 themed Red Dwarf Night not to be released on DVD. This is sadly unlikely to change in the future.

Q

How can I join the Red Dwarf fan club?

A

If you go to the
links section on this site, you will find a link to The Official Red Dwarf Fan Club. Please note that the fan club is run by the fans on a voluntary basis so it may take them a while to get back to you if they get gazillions of enquiries!

Q

Is there a Red Dwarf convention?

A

In the UK, "Dimension Jump" conventions are held by the Fan Club every year or two. To find out more about upcoming events, see the TORDFC website. To read about past events, visit the
Fan Club section of this site.

Q

What is Red Dwarf: Remastered?

A

Red Dwarf: Remastered was a 1997 project to re-release the first three series on home video with updated special effects, improved picture quality and sound mix, and a number of other alterations and edits.

The Remastered episodes are available on DVD as part of the Bodysnatcher Collection boxset. The standard individual series DVD releases and Just the Shows boxsets feature the original broadcast editions.

In the first instance, please log on to our
forum and post your enquiry there. The site co-ordinator monitors all discussions and will be able to provide you with an answer.

Q

How much of the show is based on real scientific theory?

A

Doug Naylor is a voracious researcher, and his shelves are lined with books on quantum theory and new technologies. Huge amounts of the show have been influenced by real theories - including the nanobots, the stasis booth and the dimension theory of reality (!). A Brief History of Time author Professor Stephen Hawking remains a big fan of the show. One episode of The 10%ers - Grant Naylor's talent agency sit-com - included a reference to A Brief History of Time: The Musical (which featured the song 'Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principal A-Go-Go' and starred Jason Donovan as an electron).